Times and rules have changed the NFL game, but having franchise, bookend tackles has been a fixture in the NFL since it’s inception. Defense’s these days are designed to get the QB on the ground, and the edge rusher is usually the guy counted on to get the job done, thus making having great tackles a must. Here are my top prospects in this year’s draft.
1. OT La’el Collins 6’4 305 lbs Sr. LSU (#11 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
10 yard: 1.81 Bench Press: 21 3 Cone: 7.70 Short Shuttle: 4.63 Arm Length: 33 1/4
Strengths: Strong as an ox, rarely gets beat with power. Has the ability to anchor down and nullify the bull rush. Very agile for a big man, great movement is always on display on film. Gets to the 2nd level and makes blocks on a regular basis. Natural knee bender, fluid kickslide, deals with the speed rush very well. Whipped Florida edge rusher Dante Fowler’s ass this past season, shut him completely out. Could start out at guard if need be, some scouts like him as a guard, I think he’s a left or right tackle without a doubt. Powerful, violent punch. Arguably the best run blocking tackle in the entire draft. Shows the ability to recover when initially beaten. Is scheme diverse, fits in zone or man blocking scheme.
Weaknesses: Collins can become lazy with his pass protection technique at times, bending at the waist instead of his knees, and using bad hand placement. Has to improve his sight adjustment while on the move.
2. OT/G/C Cameron Erving 6’5 313 lbs rSr. Florida St. (#15 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
10 yard: 1.84 Bench Press: 30 3 Cone: 7.48 Short Shuttle: 4.63 Arm Length: 34 1/8
Strengths: Erving has 36 starts at LT and started his last 5 games at center due to need. Many have Erving slotted as just a C now, but I don’t know how they could forget what kind of tackle prospect he is. He’s tall, long, very strong and a fluid athlete. Quick feet, natural knee bender, with a good punch. He handles the speed rush pretty well. Not a mauler, but he’s a pretty good run blocker who shows the ability to climb to the 2nd level and make blocks. Was a DT as a freshman, made the switch to T as a sophomore and not only learned that postion, but as able to play center at a very high level. Erving is the most versatile lineman in the draft, he could play all five positions as a pro. Fits in well in a zone blocking scheme.
Weakness: Erving occasionally gets anxious, oversteps, leaving himself vulnerable to the inside move. Occasionally will get caught playing high, allowing himself to be knocked off balance. That’s something he will have to fix at the next level.
3. OT D.J. Humphries 6’5 307 lbs Jr. Florida (#19 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
10 yard: 1.81 Bench Press: 26 reps 3 Cone: 7.87 Short Shuttle: 4.64 Arm Length: 33 5/8
Strengths: Very lean, long, and athletic tackle prospect who gets to the second level with ease. Not a mauler, but displays decent functional strength at the point of attack. Good positional run blocker. Natural knee bender with a smooth fluid kickslide, shoots his hands well and has a decent punch. Good eyes and awareness, picks up stunts and blitzes well, move good laterally. Possesses the traits to potentially be a high caliber NFL OT. Zone or man blocking scheme is a fit.
Weaknesses: Needs to get stronger, still raw, only had 19 starts in college. Has to become more consistent with his technique as a OL. Will lose good pad level and get beat with power.
4. OT T.J. Clemmings 6’5 309 lbs rSr. Pitt (#29 on the Big Board) Grade: 1st Round
10 yard: 1.80 Bench Press: 22 reps 3 Cone: 7.68 Short Shuttle: 4.54 Arm Length: 35 1/8
Strengths: Played only two years of high school football, played his first two years of college on the defensive line before making the switch to tackle for his final two seasons. Powerful, agile, and quick OT prospect. When technically sound, he’s hard to beat in pass protection. Uses his quick feet and long arms to stop the speed rush off of the edge. Has a very powerful, explosive , heavy punch. Shows the ability to get down the field and make open field blocks on screen plays. Is a dominant run blocker, putting guys on their backsides on the regular. Could fit in either a zone or man blocking scheme.
Weaknesses: Still raw, his technique will get sloppy at times. Bad hand placement, along with bending at the waist instead of the knees. He will also overextend himself in pass protection, allowing pass rushers to beat him inside.
5. OT Andrus Peat 6’7 313 lbs Jr. Stanford (#38 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
10 yard: 1.82 3 Cone: 8.01 Short Shuttle: 4.62 Arm Length: 34 3/8
Strengths: Big, long, thick legged OT Prospect. His thick legs, allow him to handle the power rush very well. He sits his big bottom down and stones bull rushers. Solid in the run game, not a imposing run blocker, but knows how to position his body well in order to open up holes. Could come in a start at RT day one. Fits in well in a man blocking scheme.
Weaknesses: Peat has heavy legs, is a bit slow footed, has issues at times versus speed rushers. He will get caught off balance allowing guys to translate speed to power vs him. For a guy his size, he’s not as dominate of a run blocker as you would expect.
6. OG/OT Brandon Scherff 6’5 319 lbs rSr. Iowa (#36 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
10 yard: 1.78 Bench Press: 23 Short Shuttle: 4.57 3 Cone: 7.18 Arm Length: 33 3/8
Strengths: Scherff is the number one guard on my board, but is my sixth ranked T. I believe that he could play RT in the NFL at a good level. He’s a punishing 1 on 1 run blocker, takes the guy in front of him and pushes him off of the football. Displays good functional strength, the bull rush rarely works vs him in pass protection. Has good awareness and ability to pick up stunts and blitzes. Perfect fit in a power man blocking scheme.
Weaknesses: Lacks the athleticism and footwork of an elite LT, hence the reason why I like him more at G. Plays with an high pad level at times.
7. OT Cedric Ogbuehi 6’5 306 lbs rSr. Texas A&M (#52 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
Unable to run and do drills do to recovery from ACL tear. Bench Press: 23 reps Arm Length: 35 7/8
Strengths: Has played RG, RT and LT in his career at Texas A&M. Shows great feet , lateral quickness, and the ability to shadow in pass protection. Uses his long arms to his advantage, keeping pass rushers at bay. Patient pass protector who hands the speed rush well, shoots his hands well, has a decent punch. Adjusts on the fly well, picking up stunts and blitzes. Shows the ability to get to the 2nd level in the run game, decent positional run blocker, not devastating. Perfect fit in a zone blocking scheme.
Weaknesses: Had issues with power, prior to tearing his ACL, he will have to come back even stronger overall. Guys would try to get in his chest and walk him to the QB. Was going to be a late 1st round pick prior to the injury, probably will go late 2nd- early 3rd round now.
8. OT Ereck Flowers 6’6 329 lbs Jr. Miami(FL) (#53 on the Big Board) Grade: 2nd Round
10 yard: 1.78 Bench Press: 37 reps Arm Length: 34 1/2
Strengths: Very powerful man with decent feet and agility. Gets to the 2nd level surprisingly well. Will bury the guy in front of him in the run game. The 37 reps of 225 lbs is on display at all times when watching his tape. Has flashes of brilliance in pass protection, he his technique is right, he’s impossible to get around. Is very raw, but has the size and traits to possibly be a all pro tackle. I would start him out on the right side, then move him to the left if need be. Power man blocking scheme would be right up Flowers’ alley. I wouldn’t be surprised if he started out at guard for a franchise in year one.
Weaknesses: His technique can be very sloppy at times, but he got away with it because he was more gifted physically then most at the college level. Bends at the waist a lot, has to work on bending at the knees. His hand placement is sloppy, hands end up outside, which leads to grabbing.
9. T Jake Fisher 6’6 306 lbs Sr. Oregon (#63 on the Big Board) Grade: 3rd Round
10 yard: 1.75 Bench Press: 25 reps 3 Cone: 7.25 Short Shuttle: 4.33
Strengths: Three year starter at RT, made the move to LT during his senior year due to injuries on his team. Athletic prospect with good feet, shows the ability to get out in the open on sweeps, screens, and make blocks down the field. Not a punishing run blocker, but plays with good pad level, positions his body well. Fit in a zone blocking scheme. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was bumped inside to G.
Weaknesses: Posted good numbers at the combine, but the tape doesn’t match the numbers. Struggled vs pass rushers with speed, and isn’t very powerful. Slow sight adjustment while on the move.
Other Tackles on my board with draft worthy grades:
10. OT Daryl Williams 6’5 327 lbs rSr. Oklahoma (#119 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
11. OT Donovan Smith 6’6 338 lbs rJr. Penn St. (#122 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
12. OT Corey Robinson 6’7 324 lbs rSr. South Carolina (#127 on the Big Board) Grade: 4th Round
13. T Ty Sambrailo 6’6 311 lbs rSr. Colorado St. (#153 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
14. T Tyrus Thompson 6’5 324 lbs rSr. Oklahoma (#164 on the Big Board) Grade: 5th Round
15. T/G Sean Hickey 6’5 309 lbs rSr. Syracuse (#178 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
16. G/T Austin Shepherd 6’4 315 lbs rSr. Alabama (#222 on the Big Board) Grade: 6th Round
17. T/G Tayo Fabuluje 6’6 353 lbs rSr. TCU (#236 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
18. T/G Trenton Brown 6’8 355 lbs Sr. Florida (#237 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
19. T Rob Havenstein 6’7 321 lbs rSr. Wisconsin (#242 on the Big Board) Grade: 7th Round
Muslim Football Scout 